Insider’s Guide to Merced Market
For market geeks + street food lovers who want to dive deep into one of Mexico’s oldest and most important markets.
Downtown » Walking food tour » 6 stops » 3.5 hrs
Mercado Merced, the crown jewel of the Mexican capital’s public market system, is by any definition, a food-lovers paradise. It’s the historic center of food commerce in Mexico’s capital city and one of the densest and most delicious concentrations of regional Mexican cuisine in the republic. And while Modernist architect Enrique del Mora’s 1957 mid-century gem is the most recent iteration to house La Merced, the market and its tianguis—as the sprawling constellation of informal stalls on the surrounding streets is known—have been a presence in this downtown neighborhood for centuries.
A devastating fire on Christmas Eve of 2019 destroyed a large part of the market. But nothing stops La Merced. The tight community of vendors was selling their wares among the ruins the very next day. The city government made it a political priority to rebuild La Merced. Within weeks of the fire, construction began based on del Mora’s original designs. The result—Mercado Merced is more amazing than ever.
Join CTH’s Insider’s Guide to Merced Market, where we’ll navigate the Mercado’s maze-like stalls as we eat our way through one of Mexico’s oldest and most important markets. From al pastor tacos and French-fry topped campechanos, to squash blossom-filled blue corn quesadillas and chileatole, we’ll dive deep into this region’s very best dishes at one of our favorite places on earth: Mercado Merced.
For safety reasons, we do not accept children or anyone under 18 years of age. We welcome families with children on our private outings.
Includes:
5 food stops at market stands
a michelada beer cocktail
a mole tasting
a seasonal local fruit tasting
CTH Host (Bilingual)
CTH’s Guide to Mexico City
Severe food allergies and/or strict dietary accommodations cannot be accommodated. Click here to learn about our Dietary Accommodations.
THE RENDEZVOUS POINT
Our meeting spot is in Mexico City’s Centro Histórico neighborhood. Upon making a reservation, you will immediately receive a confirmation email with the meet-up details. The meeting point is easily accessible by public transportation. Mexico City has Uber too.
EAT. EAT. REPEAT.
Over the course of the day, we’ll wander La Merced’s cramped stalls and the maze-like tianguis to visit our favorite food spots and converse with our friends there, many of whom have generation ties to the market.
We’ll also stop to try seasonal fruits and an array of mole pastes from a family of mole makers from San Pedro Actopan, this region’s mole capital. We’ll cap the day off with micheladas at a stand-turned-bar that’s the preferred watering hole of La Merced’s shoppers and workers.
ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END
We’ll end our food tour a few blocks from Mexico City’s central square, El Zocalo. There, you can grab an UBER, hop on the metro, or spend the rest of your afternoon exploring the city’s Centro Historico. The Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the ruins of Tenochtitlan, and Palacio Nacional, where one of the most important Diego Rivera murals is housed, are all nearby. There are also a couple of great cantinas nearby if you want to grab a midday drink.
BEFORE YOU GO
The tours last 3.5 hours. Bring comfortable shoes, as there's a lot of walking involved. There's also a ton of food, so it's a good idea to skip breakfast!
Mexico City’s traffic can be a nightmare on the best of days. We strongly encourage people to use public transportation. The Centro neighborhood is regularly the site of parades, demonstrations, events, etc., so please plan accordingly to arrive on time.
The Merced district is a crowded, working-class area. Leave flashy jewelry, watches, etc., back at your hotel.
The summer months are Mexico City’s rainy season. While the rain normally starts in the late afternoon, well after our tours are through, CTH’s Insider’s Guide to Merced Market is rain or shine, so be prepared.
THE CTH WAY
A blogger once described Club Tengo Hambre food tours this way: 'It felt like very cool friends were showing us around their town.' That's what CTH is all about. We are a roving supper club. Our outings are small, intimate gatherings. We aim to celebrate both the social aspect of food in bringing people together and the vibrant street food scene that makes Mexico’s capital city the best place in the world for street food. We want you to bring your friends + make new ones.
Club Tengo Hambre’s tours were, quite literally, decades in the making. Years of food intel went into its curation. Our menu focuses solely on the best of Mexico City’s regional street cuisine.
Word of Mouth
"Club Tengo Hambre is an amazing experience that gives you an intimate experience of where locals eat! It's about being a traveler and not a tourist. They definitely provide this experience with friendly and knowledgeable hosts. Club Tengo Hambre is an amazing experience that gives you an intimate experience of where locals eat! It's about being a traveler and not a tourist. They definitely provide this experience with friendly and knowledgeable hosts.!"
"It was amazing and authentic. They took me to places I would never have ventured on my own. My daughter did the tour earlier in the year and recommended it. Glad she did. Fernanda was incredible. Make sure you go hungry - very hungry."
"Alejandra is the BEST! She was so fun, enjoyable, professional, courteous, and attentive to our group we wouldn’t have tried the variety of authentic and region-specific specialties had we not had her guidance. We would love to do this food tour again on our return to CDMX. Thanks again! Alejandra is the BEST! She was so fun, enjoyable, professional, courteous, and attentive to our group we wouldn’t have tried the variety of authentic and region-specific specialties had we not had her guidance. We would love to do this food tour again on our return to CDMX. Thanks again!""
Want to book a private outing?
Gather your crew and roam the streets of Mexico City with a dedicated CTH Host for your group.